‘Tough pill to swallow’: North Queensland Cowboys star Murray Taulagi opens up on State of Origin snub
Cowboys flyer Murray Taulagi vowed to fight his way back into Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater’s favour after missing the first two games of the series. Find out what the Samoan star had to say.
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Cowboys flyer Murray Taulagi has opened up on the frustration of being snubbed for State of Origin this year, vowing to fight his way back into Maroons coach Billy Slater’s favour ahead of the July 9 decider.
Taulagi played the entire 2023 series for Queensland and the first two games of 2024 before a hamstring injury ruled him out of Origin III.
After missing the first game of this year’s series with a calf injury, the Samoan international made his NRL return just before game two, scoring a try in each of his two appearances for the Cowboys in June.
Taulagi said he was surprised to miss out on selection after starting the season in red-hot form, going on a six-game tryscoring streak between rounds 3 and 9.
“It was a bit frustrating. I thought I was going really well to start the year and thought I was going to get the opportunity to play Origin,” Taulagi said.
“It’s just a tough pill to swallow. We can’t really worry about what happens on the field and with all those injuries, but like I said, (I’ve) just got to do my job for the team now and see how we go for game three.
“It will definitely be hard (to drop anyone). It’s not an easy decision for Billy (Slater) to make.
“I’m always going to put my best foot forward and try and get back in there, whether that be this year or next year.”
The ever-reliable left winger has scored at least one try in eight of his 12 NRL appearances this season.
Taulagi leads North Queensland with nine tries in 2025 despite missing two games with injury.
Queensland stars and Cowboys co-captains Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden agreed that Taulagi would be in consideration for a Maroons recall when the final squad is announced following Sunday’s meeting with the Titans.
“It’s been touch-and-go for ‘Muzz’ (Taulagi), obviously with the injuries,” Cotter said.
“But he’s a tremendous player, and someone I love playing club footy with and Origin with.
“He always goes to the next level in Origin footy, so it’s not out of the question. There’s still a big game this weekend, so anything can happen.”
Dearden said his left-edge partner would rise to the occasion if given the nod.
“I think ‘Muzz’ is always going to be in the conversation. He’s that type of calibre of player, and I thought he’s been in some great form at club level,” Dearden said.
“He’s been in the Origin arena before, so no doubt he’d be in the conversation.”
The Cowboys take on the Titans on the Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon. Kick-off is at 4.05pm.
COWBOY COBBO?
While the Brisbane Broncos hosed down the prospect of Selwyn Cobbo joining the Cowboys as a mid-season recruit this week, two of his former Maroons teammates welcomed the idea of the star outside back moving north.
Cobbo has fallen out of favour in the state’s southeast corner, and the acquisition of Grant Anderson and extension of Josiah Karapani spells trouble for the Cherbourg junior’s Broncos future.
North Queensland has struggled to find a suitable outside back to bring to the club ahead of the June 30 transfer deadline, with half a dozen rival clubs refusing to release their players.
If the Cowboys do not sign a player by the end of Friday, the club is expected to promote a development player to a top 30 contract to fill obligations set by the NRL.
Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden said Cobbo would be a great addition to any team in the competition.
“Cobbo, he’s a great player. I’ve sort of been away the last couple of weeks, so I’m not sure what’s going on, but I know that Cobbo is a great player, and I think he’d be valuable to any club,” Dearden said.
Murray Taulagi said the powerful outside back could bring much-needed X-factor to the Cowboys.
“I’ve obviously had the opportunity to play with him in Origin, and he’s a very similar character to myself. He’s very chilled and laid-back,” Taulagi said.
“We’ve seen a lot of the X-factor things that he can do with and without the ball, so it’d be pretty handy to have him in our team.
“He brings a lot of yardage carries and some of those tough things that you like to see.”
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